Heinrich, Mullin Legislation to Promote Tribal Buffalo Management Passes Senate
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) applauded the Senate passage of their bipartisan Indian Buffalo Management Act, legislation to create a buffalo program at the U.S. Department of the Interior and help promote and develop Tribal capacity to manage buffalo.
The Indian Buffalo Management Act provides secure, consistent funding for Tribes and Tribal organizations that have an established buffalo herd and management program, and provides resources for Tribes that would like to establish new herds. The legislation now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives.
"Bison are a critical part of our culture, and have been for generations, in New Mexico, across the West, and especially in Indian Country,” said Heinrich. “I’m proud to have led this legislation to strengthen our federal support for Tribal bison programs and grow this vital economic opportunity for communities deeply connected to bison. I call on the U.S. House of Representatives to quickly take up and pass this legislation.”
“I am proud to co-lead this important legislation that will help Tribes reestablish buffalo herds on reservation lands,” said Mullin. “Doing so ensures that Native peoples across the country will continue reconnecting with a keystone of their historic culture and way of life.”
The Indian Buffalo Management creates a buffalo restoration and management program within the Department of Interior to:
- Promote and develop the capacity of Tribes and tribal organizations to manage buffalo and buffalo habitat.
- Protect and enhance buffalo herds for the maximum benefit of Tribes.
- Ensure that Tribes are directly involved in the Interior Department decision-making regarding buffalo.
The bill has been endorsed by the InterTribal Buffalo Council, the National Bison Association, The Nature Conservancy, and the National Wildlife Federation.
A fact sheet is here.
In September, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs advanced the Indian Buffalo Management Act, following a key hearing before the committee where Heinrich testified in support of the legislation.
Additional Background:
The American Plains Bison, also known as the American Buffalo, is deeply connected to many Tribes, and has always held great meaning for Indian peoples. Prior to the systematic destruction of the buffalo in 1800s, there were over 60 million bison roaming freely throughout much of the United States. They provided the Tribes with everything from clothing, to food, to shelter, to utensils, to pouches, to headdresses, to containers, to arrows and much more. It is impossible to overstate their importance to Indian people historically and to this day, culturally.
The Department of Interior has provided nominal funds for buffalo management for over 20 years but in a rather piecemeal and arbitrary fashion, depending on Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) leadership any given year. This legislation affirms that commitment and authorizes a buffalo management program that will provide secure, consistent funding for Tribes and Tribal organizations that already have established buffalo herds and management programs and provides the opportunity to expand the program to other interested Tribes.
There are now 83 Tribes in 24 states who are members of the InterTribal Buffalo Council. There were 19 tribal members in 1991.
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